What is Hat Size

Each head has its own size, each its own particular
shape. A hat may fit perfectly, but if its form, width,
height and breadth do not harmonize with the shape of
a customer's skull and face, a discordant note seems
to spoil the appearance of the wearer.

HEAD SHAPES, SIZES

Headsize is based on the circumference
of the head. If a string is placed around a
head and it measures 21.8750 inches and this circumference
of the odd oval is made into a circle, the diameter
of the circle would be 7 inches. The equivalent of a
size 7. International hat sizes differ slightly, as
can be seen readily in the Table of Sizes reprinted
in this issue. English sizes are based on the true diameter
of a circle, while American sizes have a slight deviation.
The 1/8 difference allowed in the hat size list (reprinted
below) almost-but not quite-takes care of this. France,
Italy and others using the metric measure have a centimeter
(.3927 inch) between sizes, while American and English
sizes use the same centimeter differential between sizes.

Circumference of American Sizes*

American Sizes

English Sizes

French Sizes

Metric Sizes

Nearest Inches

64ths

8ths

6

5.7/8

1/2

48

18.7334

18 47/64

18 6/8

6 1/8

6

1

49

19.1261

19 8/64

19 1/8

6 1/4

6 1/8

1 1/2

50

19.5188

19 33/64

19 4/8

6 3/8

6 1/4

2

51

19.9115

19 58/64

19 7/8

6 1/2

6 3/8

2 1/2

52

20.3042

20 22/64

20 2/8

6 5/8

6 1/2

3

53

20.6969

20 45/64

20 6/8

6 3/4

6 5/8

3 1/2

54

21.0896

21 1/64

21 1/8

6 7/8

6 3/4

4

55

21.4823

21 31/64

21 4/8

7

6 7/8

4 1/2

56

21.8750

21.56/64

21 7/8

7 1/8

7

5

57

22.2677

22 17/64

22 2/8

7 1/4

7 1/8

5 1/2

58

22.66041

22 42/64

22 5/8

7 3/8

7 1/4

6

59

23.0531

23

23

7 1/2

7 3/8

6 1/2

60

23.4458

23 39/64

23 4/8

7 5/8

7 1/2

7

61

23.8485

23 54/64

23 7/8

7 3/4

7 5/8

7 1/2

62

24.2312

24 15/64

24 2/8

7 7/8

7 3/4

8

63

24.6239

24 40/64

24 5/8

8

7 7/8

8 1/2

64

25.0166

25

25

*Measurements
given are for the inside of the leather of the
finished hat, the part that touches the head.
The hat block is made larger than the figures
stated, so that the hat will be the size indicated
after the leather is inserted.

Headsize circumference given in the
table chart are not correct for all American-made hats,
because there is not yet a complete standardization
in all the factories. They are, however, correct measurements
according to the standard in effect in factories making
at least three-quarters of American hats. But no matter
how well the manufacturer adheres to standardization
of sizes, considerable effort is lost if the hat does
not look well on the consumer. It must be a fundamental
consideration that the form and size of skulls are extremely
important right from the very beginning of hat-making.
It is here that a hat begins life, and designers should
bear in mind always that the skulls of various races
and people differ widely in form and size.

People all over the world, of various
races, have skulls that are markedly different in type
and shape. It should be remembered that the head bones
of a man are heavier and differ widely in shape from
those of a woman. The man's cranium, it is reported,
rises higher from mid-ear to the rear, uppermost part
of the head is more developed in the lower part of the
head than that of a woman. And so it is, that because
of the difference in head shapes, a nicely, well-fitted
hat which looks well on one man may very well look awkward
on another.

For instance, a high crown widebrim
piece may be symmetrically perfect and look fine on
a customer, but if this same buyer tried on a hat with
a lower crown and smaller brim he might very well feel
something lacking when he looked in a mirror. A man
walked into Hat Life offices one cold day wearing a
high-domed Russian-style hat. It looked very awkward
on him, so we tried an experiment. He was asked to remove
his hat, and tried one we had in the office, but which
had a much lower crown than the one he had worn. The
difference was remarkable. Even though it was the same
style hat, the second headpiece not only fitted well,
but looked outstandingly different, giving the man a
refreshing flair.

The shape of his head made the difference.
It is important, therefore, that the cranium's shape
matches closely the shape and style of the hat. Hat
shop proprietors and salesmen will be quick to say the
difference is noticed at once. That is why they continue
to help customers in selecting a good hat which not
only fits well, but is also the best possible piece
which blends nicely with his head bone structure and
brings out his best personality. When a customer says:
"This hat looks great, it sort of goes nicely with
the shape of my head," it means that everybody
in hats is doing his, or her, job, from designer, manufacturer
and salesman.